OA/TOF is a lifelong condition. Although surgery may, in most cases, repair the original condition, common problems can still persist.
Babies with OA/TOF tend to have soft tracheal cartilages in the region of the TOF and this causes the characteristic TOF cough that virtually all children have after OA/TOF repair.
Children born with OA/TOF certainly suffer more with respiratory infections than other children, particularly in the early years. This is not due to impaired immunity but a difficulty clearing the airways of the extra mucus during normal infections.
Reflux is the return of stomach contents back up the oesophagus.
Most born with OA/TOF had an abnormal connection between the trachea and oesophagus removed at birth, and many will also have tracheomalacia and/or bronchomalacia (floppy upper airways).
